Fuel-feeding mechanism



H. F. SMITH FUEL FEEDING MECHANI SM Filed Feb. 12.

1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 why I 151/5727? J/O M 2 M 'MTUEEEEE mums 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 H. F. SMITH FUEL FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 12

MTJLQEEQE Mg atented Oct. lid, lit

HEY F. SMITH, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE GAS am 11 RCH COMPANY,

015' DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHI FUEL-FEEDING MECHANISM.

Application filed February 12, 1921. Serial NatMLflw.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY F. SMITH, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Dayton, county of Montgomery, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fuel- F eedin 'Mechanism, of which the following is a ful clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to fuel feeding mechanism and more particularly to an improved type of fuel feeding device adapted for use in connection with a gas producer, or analogous apparatus.

One of the principal objects of the invention isto provide an improved form of fuel feeding mechanism adapted for feeding coal, or similar fuel,at any predetermined 'rate, and for properly distributing it over the fuel bed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fuel feeding mechanism for use with a gas producer in which the fuel bed and the top carrying the fuel feeding mechanism are rotatable relative to each other, Which mechanism is adapted for so distributing fuel as to cause it to be uniformly spread over the fuel bed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fuel feeding mechanism having means therein for preventing the transfer of air orgas therethrough.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the description set out below when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing, in which like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the various views thereof,

Fig. l is a sectional view through a gas producer equipped with the improved form of fuel feed;

'Fig. 2 is a sectional view, in detail, of the fuel feeding mechanism proper, the section being along the line 22 of Fig. 3'

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the type of Inecha- 1' nism shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the scraperelement;

Fig. 5 is a detail view of another element of the apparatus; I

Fig. 6 is a view of a slightly modified form of mechanism, and

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the water cooled plate or screen of Fig. 6,

While the fuel feeding mechanism forming the subject matter of this invention is of general application, for purposes of easier description it is shown in connection with a gas producer, such as described in the copending application of Harry F. Smith, filed July 24, 1920, Serial No. 398,750, having a stationary body portion 10 and a rotatable top 11. The body portion 10 has a grate 12 therein adapted to support a fuel bed, to which, as the top 11 rotates, fuel is uniformly distributed by the fuel feeding mechanism mountedupon the top. The top 11 is double walled, a space being thus provided between the walls for receiving cooling water. Within the top 11 is an opening, eccentrically arranged with respect thereto, and with respect to the fuel bed, which opening is adapted to receive the fuel feeding mechanism. Rigidly secured to the top of the producer, and carried thereby, is a base member which covers the opening within the top of the producer and extends partly into said opening. This base member has a port 21 therein, preferably sector shaped, which serves as a fuel discharge aperture, through which fuel is introduced into the generating chamber within the body member 10 of the producer. A deflector 22 is provided beneath this opening, but this member may be dispensed with if desired, its purpose being to direct the course of the fuel as it falls through the aperture 21.

Rotatably mounted upon the upper surface of the base member 20 is a disc member 23 having a plurality of ports or pockets 24 therein. These pockets are preferably sector shaped, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, and in shape and size correspond to the discharge aperture 21. 'Carried by the member 23, and upon the outside thereof, is a toothed rack 25, the teeth of which are adapted to cooperate with an operating pawl 26, driven from any suitable source. Mounted upon the rotatable disc 23 is a top or hopper member having a fuel supply aperture 31 therein adapted to cooperate with a passage 32 which in turn receives the lower end of a fuel supply pipe or conveyor 33, through which fuel from any desired place is fed to the supply aperture 31. The supply aperture 31 is also a sector sha ed port, and is so positioned. that as the isc member '23 rotates each of the pockets 24 will in turn register with the aperture 31 to receive fuel therein. The discharge aperture 21 is also so positioned that as the disc member 23 rotates each of the pockets 24 will register therewith to discharge the fuel in such pocket through said aperture into the producer. The hopper member30 and the base member 20 areheld stationary, with relation to each other, by means of a pin .35 which passes through an extension 36, carried by the hopper member, and seats in a socket within the upwardly extending mem ber 37 carried by the base member 20. As shown the upwardly extending member 37 has bracing webs 38 attached thereto to strengthen it, but these webs of course may be omitted if desired. The contacting faces of the members 20, 23 and 30 are properly machined to fit with a gas tight joint, and the base member 20 and hopper member 30 are so positioned relative to each other that the aperture 21 and the aperture 31 are at no time, during the operation of the device, brought into direct communication with each other. As the 'disc member 23 is rotated, during operation, each of the pockets or ports 24 therein is brought alternately into register with the supply aperture 31, to receive a charge of fuel, and with the discharge aperture 21, to discharge the fuel within such pocket into the generating chamber of the producer. By means of this arrangement the generating chamber of the producer is never brought into direct communication with the outside, and passage of air or gas therethrough is consequently very largely eliminated. As each pocket 24 comes into communication with the aperture 21 and discharges the fuel therein into the pro- .ducer, however, that pocket may fill up with gas, and upon further rotation of the disc member to bring that pocket into register with the supply aperture 31. to receive a new supply of fuel therein. the gas within such pocket will be displaced and will pass upwardly through the pipe 33 whence it will escape into the atmosphere. And the amount of gas that may thus escape into the atmosphere may be sufiicient in quantity to interfere with the comfort of the workman. and at times so considerable as to dangerously poison the atmosphere.

In order to prevent this transfer of gas from the producer out into the atmosphere a steam supply pipe 40 is provided which passes through the hopper member 30 and has its upper end terminate in such position that it is in register with each of the pockets 24 when such pocket is in register with the discharge aperture 21. During operation steam is continuously .supplied through the pipe 40 so that as each pocket 24'registers with the discharge aperture 21 that pocket becomes filled with steam which prevents the inflow of gas thereinto. When the disc 23 progresses sufiiciently to bring the steam lled pocket into register with the supply aperture 31 there may be a slight escape of steam into the atmosphere, but the quantity is so small as to be negligible. The copending application of Harry F. Smith, filed Feb. 25, 1918, Serial No. 219,069, discloses a fuel feeding mechanism in which steam is fed to a fuel distributing member to prevent the transfer of gas therethrough, this application showing an adaptation of the same idea.

Mounted in the passage 45, in the rotatable member 23, is a hollow shaft 46, which extends through the opening 47 in the base member 20, and has a hollow fuel receiving member or plate 48 carried upon the lower end thereof. The shaft 46, and receiving member, are supported from the disc member 23 by means of a bearing ring 49 which is held in place within a groove 50 in the upper end of the shaft, the ring coacting with the shoulder 51 within the passage 45. The shaft 46 is keyed to the disc member 23 by means of the key 52, so that upon rotation of the member 23 the shaft and the plate 48 carried thereby will be correspondingly rotated. Removably attached to the upper end of the hollow shaft 46 is a pipe 53 which passes upwardly through opening 54 in the hopper member, a collar 55, held in place by a Set screw, surounding said pipe and serving to help sustain the fuel receivin member, and to also prevent leakage around the pipe through the opening 54. Carried by the hopper member and surrounding the pipe 53 is a cylindrical trough shaped member 56, the upper end of the pipe 53 having an overhanging flange 57, whlch encloses the inner upturned portion of the trough shaped member 56. Passing downwardly through the pipe 53, the hollow shaft 46. and terminating within the hollow member 48 is a pipe 58. connected to any suitable source of supply of water or other cooling fluid. Through this pipe cooling fluid passes into the member 48. thence upwardly through the hollow shaft 46 and pipe 53 whence it overflows into the trough shaped member 56,

the overhanging flange 57 preventing the leakage of water between the inner upturned portion of the trough shaped member and the pipe 53. Leading off from the trough shaped member is a pipe 59 through which cooling water escapes and passes into the hollow top of the producer. Of course. if the top of the producer is not water cooled. this water will be run off into an other suitable place.

Rotatably mounted upon the hollow shaft 46 is a scraper member 60 which. as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. consists of a curved arm adapted to rest upon the upper face of the member 48, the free end of the arm extendlow.

. In such a construction 1,a11,7ea

ing outwardly beyond the plate and being adapted to contact with a pin 61, inserted through ahole 62 within the base member 20. A plurality of these holes 62 is provided, each of which is adapted to receive the pin 61, so that the positioning of the scraper member 60 may be varied to meet any desired operating conditions. Inasmuch as the member 48 is, during operation, rotated, and the scraper member 60 held stationary, the member 48 thus rotating under this scrapenmember, any fuel deposited upon the upper face of the distributor member, will be, during rotation, pushed over the edge thereof to fallupon the fuel bed be- The scraper member may be given such shape or curvature as is desirable for securing the proper distribution of fuel over the edge of the fuel receiving member. The proper curvature of. the scraper for any given conditions may be determined mathematically; but it is generally more satisfactory to determine it by actual test. Since the member 48 rotates and the scraper member remains stationary the fuel may be dropped upon any part of the upper surface of the member 48 without affecting the proper distribution thereof; but as illustrated, at any given time, the fuel is distributed over substantially half of the edge of the distributing member. In the device as illustrated in the drawing, the feeding mechanism is adapted for use with a gas producer having a rotatable top and stationary fuel bed, the fuel feeding mechanism being located eccentrically to the fuel bed.

it is necessary, in order to secure a uniform distribution of the fuel over the entire fuel bed, that more fuel be fed to the outer portions of the fuel bed than to the central portion. The apparatus illustrated has the scraper arm 60 so shaped that during rotation of the top 11 the fuel will, at any given time, be pushed over different portions of the edge of the plate 48 at varying rates, to feed agreater quantity of fuel to the outer portions of the fuel bed than to the central portion. As shown the scraper arm is curved against the direction of movement of the fuel, and as a result when the fuel receiving member rotates the fuel is crowded over the edge of the rotating receiving member at a non-uniform rate, so that at any given time during operation of the device the fuel will be passing over different portions of the edge of the fuel receiving member at different rates. In the drawing the aperture 21 is shown so positioned as to discharge fuel upon the outer part of the member 48, but this is merely a preferred design, as it is a matter of in difierence. so far as proper distribution of fuel from the member 48 is concerned, upon fuel is deposited. If

what part thereof the desired the fuel could be deposited upon the inner part of the receiving member 48 or upon the center thereof, and the same distribution would take place.

Inasmuch as all fuel which is deposited upon the member 48 will be pushed over the edge thereof by the scraper member, the rate at which fuel is fed to the fuel bed is dependent upon the rate of rotation of the disc shaped measuring member or fuel measuring device 23. The pawl 26 has a constant travel, and, in order to control. the rate of rotation of the measuring member without varying the speed of operation of the pawl actuating mechanism a control plate 65, carried by the hopper member 30, is pro vided whereby the'pawl may be held out of engagement with the teeth during a part of its travel, to thus cause the disc to advance the member 23 at any desired rate. This plate is positioned to overlie the teeth of the rack 25, and is of sufficient width to hold the awl out of engagement with these teeth.

y properly positioning this plate, the pawl upon Working stroke will advance the disc member one, two, or more teeth at atime, irrespective of the speed of the pawl actuating means. By properly manipulating nuts 66, controlling the tension of the springs 67, the setting of this plate may be varied at will.

' In Figs. 6 and 7 is shown a slightly modified form of fuel feeding device. In this modification the fuel receiving member 48 is not a water cooled plate or shelf, as shown in the modification already described, but consists of a metal plate, carried upon the shaft 80, which is keyed to the disc member 23' and rotates therewith. Positioned be low the plate 48 is a water cooled shelf 81, which acts as a screen or heat insulating device for preventing the plate 48 from be coming unduly heated during operation of the device. The shelf 81 is supported by means of a plurality of pipes 82, which are in turn rigidly attached to the top 11 of the producer. Through these pipes water is circulated through the member 81 to effect the desired cooling thereof. The construction of the device, and the operation thereof, is otherwise substantially the same as the construction and operation described above.

In each form of the device, fuel, during operation, passes into the pockets 24 as they move beneath the supply aperture 31 and 15 then discharged through the aperture 21 upcooling on the fuel receiving plate, whence it is swept over the edge by the scraper member 60, the distribution being controlled by the setting and curvature of the scraper member. The transfer of gas from within the producer to the atmosphere is prevented by means of the steam supply pipe 40. Also the leakage of air in through the contacting faces of the mechanism is minimized; lBut if any air should leak into the aperture 21 which would normally tend to burn with the gas in the producer and unduly decrease the richness of the gas such burning is prevented by the steam -which dilutes that air and prevents such burning.

\Vhile the forms of. mechanism herein shown and described constitute preferred forms of embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a member having a fuel supply aperture and a fuel discharge aperture; a rotatable disc member having apart therelhreugh adapted to register alternateh with the fuel supply aperture and with the fuel discharge aperture: and means for filling said portwith steam while it is in register with the fuel discharge aperture, to prevent the transfer therethrough of gas.

2. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a rotatable fuel receiving plate; means for feeding fuel to said receiving plate; and means for pushing the fuel over substantially half of the edge of said receiving plate, at any given time.

3. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a rotatable fuel receiving member; meansfor feeding fuel to said member; and a stationary curved scraper member associated with said fuel receiving member for causing the fuel thereon to pass over the edge thereof, said scraper member being curved against the direction of movement of the fuel so that at a given time the fuel passes over different portions of the edge of the receiving member at different rates.

4. In apparatus of the character described, the combination'of a rotatable fuel receiving member; means for feeding fuel to said member; and an adjustable stationary curved scraper member associated with said receiving member for causing the fuel to pass over different portions of the edge thereof at different rates, at any given time; the scraper being curved against the direction of -movement of the fuel so that the rate at which fuel asses over the edge of the receiving mem r at a given angular distance from the scraper member will be independent of the: part of the receiving member upon which the fuel is fed. a

5. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a fuel receiving plate; a measuring device for feeding fuel onto said plate at a predetermined rate, means associated with said measuring device for preventing the transfer [of air or gas therethrough; and means for causing the fuel fed onto said plate to pass over the edge th 6. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a fuel receiving plate; a measuring device for feeding fuel onto said plate at a predetermined rate, means associated with said measuring device for preventing the transfer of air or gas therethrough; and means for causing the fuel fed onto said plate to pass over the edge thereof, said means being so constructed and arranged that the fuel will at any given time pass over different portions of the edge of said plate at different rates.

7. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a member having a fuel supply aperture and a fuel discharge aperture; a. fuel measuring device having a port therein adapted to register alternately with the fuel supply aperture and thafuel (llS- eharge aperture; means for supplying steam to said port while it is in register with the fuel discharge aperture; a fuel receiving member below said fuel discharge aperture, and means associated therewith for causing the fuel fed onto said receiving member to pass non-uniformly over the edge thereof, the construction being such that at any given time the fuel passes over different portions of the edge thereof at diflerent rates.

8. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a member having a fuel supply aperture and a fuel discharge aperture; a fuel measuring device, comprising a rotatable ported disc, having aport therein adapted to register alternately with the fuel supply aperture and the fuel discharge aperture; means for supplying steam to said port while. it is in register with the fuel discharge aperture; a fuel receiving ,member below sald fuel discharge aperture, and

means associated therewith for causing the fuel fed onto said receiving member to pass over the edge thereof, the construction and arrangement being such that at any given time the fuel passes over different portions of the edge thereof at different rates.

9. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a member having a fuel supply aperture: a' base member having a fuel discharge aperture; a fuel measuring device intermediate said two members, comprising a disc shaped member having a port therein adapted to register alternately with the fuel supply aperture and the fuel discharge aperture: means for-supplying steam to said port while it is in register with the fuel discharge aperture; a rotatable fuel receiving member below said fuel discharge aperture; and a stationary curved scraper member associated therewith for forcing the fuel fed onto said receiving member nonuniformly over the edge thereof.

10. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a member having a fuel supply aperture and a fuel discharge aperture; a fuel measuring device having ice Bil

tilt

a port therein adaptedto register alternately with the fuel supply aperture and the fuel discharge aperture; means for supplying steam to said port while it is in register with the fuel discharge aperture; a Water cooled fuel receiving member below said fuel discharge aperture; and means curved against the direction of movement of the fuel upon the fuel receiving member associated the with for causing the fuel fed onto the receiving member to pass over the edge thereof said means being so shaped and arranged that at any given time the fuel passes over different portions of the edge at difierent rates. 1

11. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a gas producer having a body portion and a top portion, one of which is rotatable relative to the other; of a fuel feeding mechanism comprising a rotatable distributor plate; means for feeding fuel to said distributor plate; and stationary means for pushing the fuel over the ed e of said distributor plate.

12. scribed, the combination with a gas producer having a body portion and a to portion, one of which is rotatable relative to the other; of a rotatable fuel receiving memr; means for feeding fuel onto said member; and a stationary scraper member ass0- ciated with said plate for causing the fuel to pass over the edge thereof, the shape and arran nent of said scraper member being such at an given time the fuel will be forced over di erent portions of the edge of the fuel receiving member at different rates.

13. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a gas producer having a body portion and a top portion, one of which is rotatable relative to the other; of a fuel feeding mechanism carried by said top portion, having a fuel supply aperture and a fuel discharge aperture; a fuel measuring device having a port therein adapted to register alternately with the fuel supply aperture and the fuel discharge aperture; means for supplying steam to said port while it is in register with the fuel discharge aperture; a fuel receiving member below said fuel discharge aperture and means associated therewith constructed to force the fuel fed onto said receiving member over diflerent portions of the edge of said receiving member at different rates. I

14. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a rotatable fuel receiving plate; means for feeding fuel onto said fuel receiving plate; stationary means for pushing the fuel over the edge of said fuel receiving plate; and means for water coolingn'said receiving plate.

scribed, the combination of a rotatable fuel 11 apparatus of the character de-' apparatus of the character de- I receiving member; a stationary water cooled screen beneath said receiving 'member; means for feeding fuel ing member; and a stationary scraper member-associated with said fuel receiving member for causing the fuel to pass over the edge thereof, the shape and arrangement of said scraper member being such that at any given time more fuel will pass over one portion of the edge of the fuel receiving member than over the other.

16. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a fuel receiving plate; means for feeding fuel onto said plate; means for pushing the fuel over the edge of said plate; and a water cooled screen beneath said plate.

17. In apparatus of the character de scribed, the combination of a rotatable hollow fuel receiving plate; a hollow supporting shaft therefor, shaft communicating with the space within the hollow plate; and a pipe extending into said hollow shaft, the construction being such as to permit the circulation of cooling.

water through said plate.

18. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a member having a fuel supply aperture and a fuel discharge aperture; a rotatable measuring device having a fuel receiving pocket therein adapted to register alternately with the said supply and discharge apertures; means for rotating said measuring device, and means associated therewith for varying the rate of rotation of the measuring device without varying the speed of operation of said rotating means.

19. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a member having a fuel supply aperture and a fuel discharge aperture; a rotatable measuring de vice, having a fuel receiving pocket therein adapted to register alternately with the said supply and discharge apertures; teeth on, said measuring device, an operating pawl for engaging said teeth to cause rotation of the measuring device, said pawl being so constructed that during operation it has a constant travel, and means for varying the time during its travel when said pawl is in engagement with said teeth, to vary the rate of rotation of the measurin device without alterin the rate of travel oIthe pawl.

20. apparatus of the character described, a rotatable fuel receiving plate; means for feeding fuel thereonto; an adjustable scrape-r arm cooperating with said plate, adapted to be held in a predetermined relationship with respect thereto, to cause the fuel on said plate to pass over the edge thereof; and means for holding said scraper arm in the predetermined relationship.

21. In apparatus of the chararter described, a rotatable fuel receiving plate;

onto said fuel receivthe space within said means for feeding fuel thereonto; an adjustable scraper arm cooperating with said plate, and adapted to be held in a predetermined relationship with respect to said plate, to cause the fuel on said plate to pass over the edge thereof; and means comprising a plurality of holes arranged around said plate, and a pin adapted for positioning in said holes, said pin when positioned in any one of the holes being so located as to contact with the scraper arm to hold said arm stationary.

22. A fuel feeding mechanism for a as producer, or the like, comprising, in com ination, a fuel receiving member; a measuring device for feeding fuel at a predetermined rate onto said receiving member, means associated with said measuring device for preventing the transferof air and gas therethrough; and means, including a curved scraper member, for forcing the fuel fed onto the said receiving member nonuniformly over the edge thereof.

23. In apparatus of the character described, and in combination, a gas producer comprising a body portion and a top portion, one of which is rotatable relative to the other; and a fuel feeding mechanism carried by the said top portion, comprising a rotatable fuel receiving member eccentrically positioned within said producer.

24. A fuel feeding mechanism, for a gas producer, or the like, comprising a rotatable fuel receiving member, and a stationa scraper member associated therewith, sai scraper member being carried against the direction of rotation of the fuel receiving member.

25. Fuel feeding mechanism for a gas producer or the like, comprising a rotatable fuel receiving plate within said producer, means for introducing fuel into the said producer and upon the said plate without permitting the ingress or egress of gas; and means for pushing the fuel over the said receiving plate, so constructed and arranged that at a given time the fuel passes over different portions of the edge of said plate at different rates.

In testimony whereof I hereto aflix my signature.

HARRY F. SMITH.

Vitnesses:

CHARLES E. Gamma, HERMAN G. Dorian. 

